Folliculitis
Encyclopedia
Folliculitis is the inflammation
of one or more hair follicle
s. The condition may occur anywhere on the skin
with the exception of the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
s, furuncles, and other cases of folliculitis develop from Staphylococcus aureus
and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
.
Folliculitis starts when hair follicles are damaged by friction
from clothing
, an insect bite, blockage of the follicle, shaving
, or braids too tight and too close to the scalp. In most cases of folliculitis, the damaged follicles are then infected with the bacterium Staphylococcus
.
Iron deficiency anemia
is sometimes associated with chronic cases.
Inflammation
Inflammation is part of the complex biological response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. Inflammation is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli and to initiate the healing process...
of one or more hair follicle
Hair follicle
A hair follicle is a skin organ that produces hair. Hair production occurs in phases, including a growth phase , and cessation phase , and a rest phase . Stem cells are principally responsible for the production of hair....
s. The condition may occur anywhere on the skin
Skin
-Dermis:The dermis is the layer of skin beneath the epidermis that consists of connective tissue and cushions the body from stress and strain. The dermis is tightly connected to the epidermis by a basement membrane. It also harbors many Mechanoreceptors that provide the sense of touch and heat...
with the exception of the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
Causes
Most carbuncleCarbuncle
A carbuncle is an abscess larger than a boil, usually with one or more openings draining pus onto the skin. It is usually caused by bacterial infection, most commonly Staphylococcus aureus. The infection is contagious and may spread to other areas of the body or other people...
s, furuncles, and other cases of folliculitis develop from Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus aureus is a facultative anaerobic Gram-positive coccal bacterium. It is frequently found as part of the normal skin flora on the skin and nasal passages. It is estimated that 20% of the human population are long-term carriers of S. aureus. S. aureus is the most common species of...
and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common bacterium that can cause disease in animals, including humans. It is found in soil, water, skin flora, and most man-made environments throughout the world. It thrives not only in normal atmospheres, but also in hypoxic atmospheres, and has, thus, colonized many...
.
Folliculitis starts when hair follicles are damaged by friction
Friction
Friction is the force resisting the relative motion of solid surfaces, fluid layers, and/or material elements sliding against each other. There are several types of friction:...
from clothing
Clothing
Clothing refers to any covering for the human body that is worn. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic and is a feature of nearly all human societies...
, an insect bite, blockage of the follicle, shaving
Shaving
Shaving is the removal of hair, by using a razor or any other kind of bladed implement, to slice it down to the level of the skin. Shaving is most commonly practiced by men to remove their facial hair and by women to remove their leg and underarm hair...
, or braids too tight and too close to the scalp. In most cases of folliculitis, the damaged follicles are then infected with the bacterium Staphylococcus
Staphylococcus
Staphylococcus is a genus of Gram-positive bacteria. Under the microscope they appear round , and form in grape-like clusters....
.
Iron deficiency anemia
Iron deficiency anemia
Iron-deficiency anemia is a common anemia that occurs when iron loss occurs, and/or the dietary intake or absorption of iron is insufficient...
is sometimes associated with chronic cases.
Fungal
- Tinea barbaeTinea barbaeTinea barbæ is a fungal infection of the hair. Tinea barbae is due to a dermatophytic infection around the bearded area of men. Generally, the infection occurs as a follicular inflammation, or as a cutaneous granulomatous lesion, i.e. a chronic inflammatory reaction. It is one of the causes of...
is similar to barber's itch, but the infection is caused by the fungusFungusA fungus is a member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds , as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, Fungi, which is separate from plants, animals, and bacteria...
T. rubrum. - Malassezia folliculitis, formerly known as Pityrosporum folliculitisPityrosporum folliculitisPityrosporum folliculitis or Malassezia folliculitis is a skin condition caused by infection by pityrosporum yeast.The skin of the upper trunk area like the back, upper arms and sometimes the neck is often affected and this condition is often seen in young to middle aged adults...
, is caused by yeastYeastYeasts are eukaryotic micro-organisms classified in the kingdom Fungi, with 1,500 species currently described estimated to be only 1% of all fungal species. Most reproduce asexually by mitosis, and many do so by an asymmetric division process called budding...
s (fungiFungusA fungus is a member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds , as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, Fungi, which is separate from plants, animals, and bacteria...
) of the genusGenusIn biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Malassezia.
Bacterial
- Hot tub folliculitisHot tub folliculitisHot tub folliculitis is a common type of folliculitis, a condition which causes inflammation of the hair follicle....
is caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosaPseudomonas aeruginosaPseudomonas aeruginosa is a common bacterium that can cause disease in animals, including humans. It is found in soil, water, skin flora, and most man-made environments throughout the world. It thrives not only in normal atmospheres, but also in hypoxic atmospheres, and has, thus, colonized many...
. The folliculitis usually occurs after sitting in a hot tub that was not properly cleaned before use. Symptoms are found around the body parts that sit in the hot tub—typically the legs, hips, and buttocksButtocksThe buttocks are two rounded portions of the anatomy, located on the posterior of the pelvic region of apes and humans, and many other bipeds or quadrupeds, and comprise a layer of fat superimposed on the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius muscles. Physiologically, the buttocks enable weight to...
and surrounding areas. Symptoms are typically amplified around regions that were covered by wet clothing, such as bathing suits. - Sycosis vulgarisSycosis vulgarisSycosis vulgaris is a cutaneous condition characterized by a chronic infection of the bearded region....
, Sycosis barbae or Barber's itch is a staphylococcusStaphylococcusStaphylococcus is a genus of Gram-positive bacteria. Under the microscope they appear round , and form in grape-like clusters....
infection of the hair follicles in the bearded area of the face, usually the upper lip. Shaving aggravates the condition. - Gram-negative folliculitisGram-negative folliculitisGram-negative folliculitis occurs in patients who have had moderately inflammatory acne for long periods and have been treated with long-term antibiotics, mainly tetracyclines, a disease in which cultures of lesions usually reveals a species of Klebsiella, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter, or, from...
may appear after prolonged acne treatment with antibiotics.
Viral
- Herpetic folliculitis may occur when Herpes Simplex Virus infection spreads to nearby hair follicles - mostly around the mouth.
Non-infectious
- Pseudofolliculitis barbaePseudofolliculitis barbaePseudofolliculitis barbae , also known as barber's itch, folliculitis barbae traumatica, razor bumps, scarring pseudofolliculitis of the beard, and shave bumps, is a medical term for persistent irritation caused by shaving....
is a disorder occurring when hair curves back into the skin and causes inflammation. - Eosinophilic folliculitisEosinophilic folliculitisEosinophilic folliculitis is an itchy rash with an unknown cause that is most common among individuals with HIV, though it can occur in HIV-negative individuals where it is known by the eponym Ofuji disease...
may appear in persons with impaired immune systems. - Folliculitis decalvansFolliculitis decalvansFolliculitis decalvans is an inflammatory alopecia that leads to bogginess or induration of involved parts of the scalp along with pustules, erosions, crusts, and scale. It begins at a central point and spreads outward, leaving scarring, sores, and hair loss in its wake...
or tufted folliculitis usually affects scalp. Several hairs arise from the same hair follicle. Scarring and permanent hair loss may follow. The cause is unknown. - Folliculitis keloidalis scarring on the nape of the neck, most common among males of curly hair.
- Oil folliculitis is inflammation of hair follicles due to exposure to various oils and typically occurs on forearms or thighs. It is common in refinery workers, road workers, mechanics, sheep shearers. Even makeup may cause it.
- Malignancy may also be represented by recalcitrant cases.
Symptoms
- rashRashA rash is a change of the skin which affects its color, appearance or texture. A rash may be localized in one part of the body, or affect all the skin. Rashes may cause the skin to change color, itch, become warm, bumpy, chapped, dry, cracked or blistered, swell and may be painful. The causes, and...
(reddened skin area) - pimplePimpleA pimple, zit or spot is a kind of acne, and one of the many results of excess oil getting trapped in the pores. Some of the varieties are pustules or papules....
s or pustules located around a hair follicle- may crust over
- typically occur on neck, armpit, or groinGroinIn human anatomy, the groin areas are the two creases at the junction of the torso with the legs, on either side of the pubic area. This is also known as the medial compartment of the thigh. A pulled groin muscle usually refers to a painful injury sustained by straining the hip adductor muscles...
area - may be present as genital lesionLesionA lesion is any abnormality in the tissue of an organism , usually caused by disease or trauma. Lesion is derived from the Latin word laesio which means injury.- Types :...
s
- itching skin
- spreading from leg to arm to body through improper treatment of antibiotics
Treatment
- Topical antisepticAntisepticAntiseptics are antimicrobial substances that are applied to living tissue/skin to reduce the possibility of infection, sepsis, or putrefaction...
treatment is adequate for most cases - Topical antibioticAntibioticAn antibacterial is a compound or substance that kills or slows down the growth of bacteria.The term is often used synonymously with the term antibiotic; today, however, with increased knowledge of the causative agents of various infectious diseases, antibiotic has come to denote a broader range of...
s such as mupirocinMupirocinMupirocin is an antibiotic originally isolated from Pseudomonas fluorescens NCIMB 10586, developed by Beecham....
or neomycinNeomycinNeomycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic that is found in many topical medications such as creams, ointments, and eyedrops. The discovery of Neomycin dates back to 1949. It was discovered in the lab of Selman Waksman, who was later awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology and medicine in 1951...
containing ointment - Some patients may benefit from systemic narrow-spectrum penicillinase-resistant penicillins (such as dicloxacillinDicloxacillinDicloxacillin is a narrow-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotic of the penicillin class. It is used to treat infections caused by susceptible Gram-positive bacteria. It is active against beta-lactamase-producing organisms such as Staphylococcus aureus, which would otherwise be resistant to most...
in US, or flucloxacillinFlucloxacillinFlucloxacillin or floxacillin is a narrow-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotic of the penicillin class. It is used to treat infections caused by susceptible Gram-positive bacteria. Unlike other penicillins, flucloxacillin has activity against beta-lactamase-producing organisms such as Staphylococcus...
in UK) - Fungal folliculitis can worsen with antibiotics and may require an oral antifungal such as FluconazoleFluconazoleFluconazole is a triazole antifungal drug used in the treatment and prevention of superficial and systemic fungal infections. In a bulk powder form, it appears as a white crystalline powder, and it is very slightly soluble in water and soluble in alcohol. It is commonly marketed under the trade...
. Topical antifungals such as Econazole Nitrate may also be effective.